A new era begins at Inter Miami following Javier Mascherano's departure. Guillermo Hoyos, the new coach of the Herons, spoke to the press for the first time since taking the helm and surprised everyone at his introductory press conference by ranking the club among the best teams in the world.
The Argentine coach highlighted the club's rapid growth and the impact it has had on international soccer in recent years-factors that have propelled it to the top.
Hoyos Has No Doubts About Inter Miami
In his first official statements, the coach made clear his ambitious vision for the Florida-based team's present, and highlighted the opening of Inter Miami's new stadium, Nu Stadium, as something that has elevated the club's stature:
Today, Inter, I believe, is among the top 10 teams in the world, not just in MLS. On top of that, with the stadium they've opened, it's something extraordinary. It has a very, very high profile.
Guillermo Hoyos
To back up his statement, Hoyos offered more of a look toward the future than an assessment of the team's current state. Although it recently won the Eastern Conference title and claimed the MLS Cup, the team was already eliminated in its first round of the 2026 CONCACAF Champions League, causing it to drop four spots (from 3rd to 7th) in the CONCACAF Club Rankings.
In the MLS, Inter Miami sits in third place in the Eastern Conference with 12 points after seven matches, following two consecutive draws at its new stadium, where the team has yet to secure a victory since its opening. As a result, they trail Chicago Fire by one point and are four points behind the leader, Nashville (16).
The coach, who until now had been working within the club's sports organization, will initially take over as interim head coach, though he did not rule out continuing in the role if the board decides to keep him on: "I'm at their service for whatever they want,” added the Argentine coach.
Meanwhile, Hoyos has already led his first training session as the new head coach, with the team focusing on the upcoming match.
This Saturday, April 18, they will face the Colorado Rapids on the road for Matchday 8 of Major League Soccer at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, in what will be the first match with Hoyos at the helm.
They will then travel to Real Salt Lake‘s home stadium, America First Field, for another MLS match on Wednesday, April 22, and will wrap up the month of April at Nu Stadium on Saturday, April 25, where they will face New England in search of their first home victory.
